1. Practicum & Professionalism
First Impressions are Lasting Ones 
Presented by Dr. Barbara Olmsted
Associate Dean, Schulich School of Education

2. A level of excellence / competence that is expected of a professional
Professionalism
What is it?
A level of excellence / competence that is expected of a professional

3. What defines a True Teaching Professional?
Puts customer satisfaction first
Expert & specialized knowledge in teaching
Excellent practical/communication skills
High quality work is evident– doing more than is expected
High standard of professional ethics – behaviour & activities related to teaching your students
Positive attitude even when times are tough
Praising your peers not yourself
Sharing knowledge and expertise
SOURCE: Ontario Government

4. Your Associate Teacher
Teacher candidates must contact their associate teacher prior to their first day of practicum
Please complete the TC profile and include with your initial
Follow-up contact by phone
If Associate is busy – ask for a better time to reach him or her
Follow up with any messages left at the school
SOURCE: Ontario Government

5. 1st Day of School Show your enthusiasm!
Report to main office 30 minutes before school starts
Wear your lanyard and Practicum ID
Introduce yourself to the office administration & state why you are in the school
Request the classroom location for your Associate Teacher
Find your Associate Teacher and introduce yourself
Show your enthusiasm!
SOURCE: Ontario Government

6. 1st Day of School cont’d.. Review the Practicum Handbook with your AT
Practicum Responsibilities
Expectations
Ask the associate teacher if there are any particular activities she/he would like you to do
SOURCE: Ontario Government

7. First Impressions Last!
Make an effort to get to know the names of the students by circulating in the class during seat work, assisting students, talking with students at the start/end of recess or out on the playground as you are supervising
Show your commitment to teaching by actively participating in the classroom and school community
Bring a lunch with you and have lunch in the staff room, mingle & talk with other teachers (avoid school gossip)
SOURCE: Ontario Government

8. Nervousness is normal!
Take time each day to make observation notes in your Practicum Binder (recess, lunch, prep period)
Stay after classes as long as your AT needs you
Minimum of 30 minutes after school is expected

9. Punctuality
Contact your school in advance to find out when the school day begins.
TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE UPON ENTERING THE SCHOOL.
(better yet, leave it in the car!)
Upon arrival, introduce yourself at the school office. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before classes begin and to remain at school at least 30 minutes after the formal end of the school day.
On subsequent days, follow the lead of your Associate Teacher.
SOURCE: Ontario Government

10. Punctuality
Always be in the teaching area prior to the arrival of students (e.g. after recess or lunch, or when periods are scheduled to begin in high schools).
Call the associate teacher and the Practicum Office
(Ext. 4555) if you are absent from your placement.

11. Dress On your first day, dress in business casual attire.
On subsequent days, dress appropriately for the individual school environment.
Exceptions in dress could include Phys. Ed., field trips, the paint centre, etc.
SOURCE: Ontario Government

12. Language/Deportment
Listen attentively and be respectful at all times when at your host school.
Strive to provide a positive model of oral and written language.
Use gender inclusive language and avoid the use of slang.
You are a visitor – do not be drawn into school conflicts.
SOURCE: Ontario Government

13. Staffroom Talk The staffroom is a public place.
Do not be drawn into criticizing other teachers or the administration.
Frame discussions of student issues positively, with a focus on improving your own teaching practice.
SOURCE: Ontario Government

14. Confidential Information
Confidential information is not to be shared beyond the professional context.
This includes:
i) your informal observations about students
information from student records such as OSRs, IEPs, and report cards
information relating to home and family background
iv) information relating to medical conditions
v) information shared informally by teachers
SOURCE: Ontario Government

15. Student Safety
Refer any request to release a student from the classroom to your Associate Teacher.
You cannot legally assume the responsibilities of a certified teacher:
Yard duty alone
Occasional teaching (supply)
Teaching alone in your Associate’s classroom
SOURCE: Ontario Government

16. Social Media
Facebook/Twitter/etc. Be aware of your presence both as a student/teacher; reconsider pictures and message boards from an admin/parent perspective. Do not respond to invitations from your students.
SOURCE: Ontario Government

17. Social Media, continued..
Limit student internet contact to board/school approved uses.
Do not post pictures of your students on Facebook

18. Practicum Binder Why is it important? What do I need to put in it?
Do I need to lug it to my placement school each day?
WHY?
Develop record keeping skills
Demonstrates your organizational ability
Record of your knowledge of routines, strategies and children in your classroom
Storage spot for your resources and ideas
Provides FA with information about your teaching, your degree of professional growth, and any areas for further growth
Provides AT with information with which to contribute to your evaluation

19. Sections of your BINDER
The TABS help you organize your binder
Pg. 7

20. TAB #1: Teaching Timetable
Weekly schedule of your AT’s timetable
If one does not exist, create one!
Highlight or outline the classes you are responsible for teaching
If you have 2 AT’s, include both timetables

21. Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:40 – 9:10 Home form
9:10 – 10:25
Biology Gr. 11 College
10:30 – 11:45
Biology Gr.12 University
11:45 – 12:30
Lunch
12:30 – 1:45
Prep period
1:50 – 3:10
Science Gr. 9 Applied

22. Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:50 9:00 – 10:30
Entry / announcements
9:00 – 10:30
Language Arts
10:30 – 10:45
Recess
Social Studies
10:45 – 11:45
Math
11:45 – 12:30
Lunch
12:30- 1:00
French PE
Spelling
1:00 – 1:30
Music
Art
1:30 – 2:00
Science
2:00 – 2:15
2:15 – 3:15

23. TAB #2: Observations
Observation is one of your most important teaching skills!
Pay close attention to events, actions and behaviours of your AT and your students, and analyse/evaluate from a teaching perspective

24. Active Observation
The process of gathering as much information as you can about your students, the teaching skills used by your AT, and the learning environment.

25. Active Observation
At times you will be jotting down teaching/management strategies….
Legible handwriting is OK!

26. Active Observation
At other times you will engage with students to support their learning

27. Start a page for each… Management Strategies Instructional Strategies
Program Organization
Student Organization
Instructional Materials
Methods of A&E
Responsibilities of the Teacher Outside of the Classroom
Provisions Made for Exceptional Learners
Pg. 9

28. Management Strategies ( Sample PJ Information) October
Teacher praised the whole class “I am so pleased that everyone…” when students listened well and completed the assigned task
Teacher tells students to put their heads down on their desk, once students are quiet teacher asks for heads up & gives new instructions.
Two students talk while teacher gives instructions, she first looks at them & they stop for a few minutes
When they start again she walks & stands between them . They stop talking
Students who continue to ignore the teachers instructions are kept in at recess to talk about how to change their behaviour

29. Management Strategies( Sample SS Information) October
Teacher gave positive reinforcement individually to students who listened well and completed task
Asks student to remove IPod ear buds. Tells student that no music devices are allowed in the classroom. Warns student that the next incident will result in the teacher confiscating the device & holding it until the end of the day (as per school rule)
Teacher uses hand in the air to get student attention, waits, students gradually become quieter and wait for teacher instructions
Two students talk while teacher gives instructions, he first looks at them & they stop for a few minutes
When they start again he walks & stands between them while they are talking and points to their notebooks
Speaks individually to students arriving late to class asking for late slip from office

30. TAB #3: ROUTINES Common pattern of activity
Rehearsed set of movements, actions, or words
Students may or may not require prompting to begin a routine
No LP required!

31. TAB #3: ROUTINES Management-Related
Opening exercises, entry, dismissal
Washroom breaks
Lunch/yard duty
Fire drill/lockdown
Curricular-Related
Taking up homework
Circle time
Spelling
Bell work
D.E.A.R.

32. Example of JI Management Routines
Squads Purpose: to keep students organized in gym class. Students can hear instructions and see the teacher’s demonstrations. Procedure: As soon as students enter gym they sit in straight lines radiating from the centre circle. The teacher assigns students to a squad during 1st PE class. They stay in the same squad all year. Whenever the teacher calls squads the students immediately go to their spot with their other squad members 3 Second Rule Purpose: a management technique that teacher uses when he/she needs to have the class settle down before instructions are given Procedure: If students are noisy teacher calls out loudly 3 second rule . He/she then counts down to 3 verbally & visually with fingers and extended arm. When he/she gets to zero if the students are quiet he/she congratulates the students & proceeds with the instructions. If the students are still noisy he/she starts the timer button on watch & counts the minutes until silence. These wasted minutes are tallied each day & then they are “served “ on Friday afternoon

33. TAB#4: LESSON PLANS
Include a daily organizer immediately before the lessons for the day
Put the most recent lesson on top
Include all handouts, quizzes, etc. after the lesson plan
REFLECT!!!

34. TAB#5: OTHER
Include teaching ideas, strategies, resources that your AT or other teachers are using
Photographs of bulletin boards
Fire drill/lockdown information
Parent letters/field trip information
PD Day information

35. YOUR BINDER…
Your binder must be at school with you every day and available to your Faculty Advisor, Associate Teacher, and school administrators
Please let your Associate Teacher know that you have it available every day, it should be something you are proud to show off. It is clear evidence of your teaching preparedness!

36. Challenges? Issues? Problems?
If you begin to experience difficulty on practicum, please contact the Practicum Office!
Ext. 4555

37. Additional Information
OCT’s Foundations of Professional Practice OCT’s Professional Advisory – Use of Electronic Communication and Social Media

38. Keys to Success Be respectful to students, staff, admin, parents
Don’t forget to smile
Be enthusiastic, energetic & willing
Be punctual
Dress professionally
Learn student names

39. And please…
Read your Practicum Handbook carefully!

40. Questions?

41. 